"Implications of Energy and Agriculture Development for Wildlife on Private Lands" is the topic of Special Session 2 at the 78^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Concurrent with three other special sessions, it will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Co-Chaired by Dr. Ed Arnett of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Dr. Tim McCoy of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, this session will examine how America's wildlife and natural resources will be impacted and challenged by the nation's growing demand for energy and food.

Private lands comprise 60 percent of the land base within the United States and provide crucial habitat for a diverse and expansive host of fish and wildlife species. The importance of private land to America's wildlife and natural resource management is readily apparent considering that these lands comprise the majority of land area categorized under the three major land use practices in the US - including 99 percent of cropland, 61 percent of grassland and rangeland, and 56 percent of forest land. Within forest ecosystems alone, 60 percent of forest wildlife species of conservation concern are found on private forestlands in the coterminous United States. In addition, over 75 percent of sportsmen and women depend on access to private lands for recreational hunting opportunities each year.

With renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power joining traditional fossil fuel extraction, energy development on private lands has exploded in recent years. The emergence of biofuels and rising crop prices has resulted in broad shifts from conservation to resource production. Expanding crop production is being driven by both demands for food (livestock feed and human feed) as well as fuel. These trends have resulted in wildlife population declines, extensive habitat loss, dwindling opportunities for conservation and mitigation, and reduced or restricted opportunities for sportsmen and women. Current and future land and natural resource management policies will further threaten our Nation's wildlife and fisheries resources unless greater balance can be restored.

This special session will address threats to and opportunities for habitat conservation in relation to rapidly growing energy development and expanding crop production on private lands. Speakers will address how these multiple factors are affecting wildlife, outdoor recreational opportunities, landowners, and the public. They will identify creative policy and management approaches to promote diverse, abundant and sustainable wildlife resources on private lands while balancing the nation's need for food and energy production.

Learn more about the 78^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.